When is Breast Cancer Awareness Day in 2017?

The date of Breast Cancer Awareness Day in 2017 is on Friday, October 20th.

What is Breast Cancer Awareness Day?

Breast cancer actually doesn't have one day of recognition. It has the entire month of October. However, National Mammography Day on the third Friday in October is a good date to celebrate as Breast Cancer Awareness Day. On this day, women are reminded that regular checkups, as advised by their physician, are key to early detection of breast cancer. The day was first proclaimed National Mammography Day in 1993 by President Bill Clinton.

Sadly, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. It kills more women each year than any cancer besides lung cancer. Not all medical researchers agree on when to start getting mammograms. Some say starting at 40 is best while others say age 50 is a reasonable age for low-risk individuals. If you're over age 40 and not sure about your risk factors, talk to your doctor about when you should schedule a mammogram.